Every Sunday, expats gather at Yani Louge in Jing'an district to learn Brazilian Zouk and dance the night away among friends.

Dances such as the Salsa and the Tango have already gained popularity in Shanghai, but the Brazilian Zouk is a relative newcomer. "Nobody had ever heard of it when I first came to Shanghai," said Willemijn Passtoors, a Dutch dance teacher who started teaching Zouk in Shanghai two years ago.

With roots in the Lambada, Zouk is influenced by other Brazilian and Latin dances such as Samba de Gafieira. It can be danced to many kinds of music, including hip-hop and R & B. It is known for its fluid movements and eye contact between partners, according to www.zoukshanghai.com. 

On Sunday, participants danced in pairs, locking eyes as they swung their hips to the rhythm. The crowd was entranced by the loud music as they danced.

Passtoors has been dancing the Brazilian Zouk for about four and a half years. She first learned it in the Netherlands. She came to China about two years ago to do postdoctoral research in molecular biology at Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

"I miss the dance. I was a dance teacher in Holland. So I thought about giving it a try," she said. She became an instructor in Brazilian Zouk at Deejay Dance Studio, and began to organize Brazilian Zouk nights in Shanghai.

On weekdays, Passtoors does research at the university. On weekends she teaches the dance. "I use my brain during the day, and I use the rest at night," she told the Global Times.

When Passtoors first started the course, there were only six students. "I was in a bar. I made myself a T-shirt with Zouk on it just to make sure people could see it. And it worked! There was a girl who knew Zouk and she came to me saying she wanted to learn Zouk. She had some friends. I knew a guy who also wanted to learn so we had the class with six people," she said.

The dance has since taken off. Passtoors now teaches at the Tangogo dance studio as well as Deejay. There are approximately 20 students in each of her classes. The students are from different countries, including the US and the UK, making it one of the most multicultural dance classes in Shanghai. It makes for a nice group. "That's because we are all Zouk people, and Zouk people are social," Passtoors said.

Students all enjoy the social aspect of the dance. Julia Polishchuk is a Ukrainian woman who has followed the dance for half a year. "I like hanging out with friends, and Zouk dance is a perfect option. It's all about creativity. After learning the basic rules you use them in a different way. You can slow down or go faster according to the music. I really enjoy it," she told the Global Times.

Brazilian Zouk is also an ideal choice for newcomers. It embraces every throbbing heart with passion and affection. "It's not a difficult dance. What attracts me most is the teacher and the partners. The teacher is very passionate, and the partners are eager to guide you regardless of your level. They are all social people, ready to get to know new friends. You can easily merge into the group, and there is no barrier for newcomers like me. I brought my friends along with me," said Shen Yayun, who has just taken two classes.

As the night wore on, the dancers didn't slow down. Jokes could be heard here and there, and laughter spread around the bar. "My students become my friends and some of my friends become my dancers. The Zouk community is open and fun, always," Passtoors said.

Global Times

Expats dance Brazilian Zouk last Sunday at Yani Lounge.

Photo: Courtesy of Willemijn Passtoors

 

Julia Polishchuk (left) with Willemijn Passtoors

Photo: GT

 

Zouk is a dance of passion.

Photo: IC